MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

jo--same thing happened to me re: tattoos.  I freaked and refused them for a while.  Gave in later, then spent a couple hundred dollars getting them lasered off. I'm still angry about that. 

Ah Sandee, you might as well get all the crap on your plate and once. Then once it's gone, it's gone!

I don't plan out more than 6 months. Still. Just over 2 years out.

NativeMainer - I am still pissed about the tattoos.  I should have been told about them ahead of time.  They are really small and I have to search for them to find them.  Good thing - otherwise I would get them taken off.  I can't see any of them when dressed.

Sherry - I agree with you.  The internet is so full of information that it makes my head spin.  I printed what seems like tons of information and was still confused.  Maybe I should throw all that stuff in the bonfire.  It would burn for hours. 

elimar - I had both - tattoos and sharpie markers.  Maybe some overkill?

Lucky you, Sandee. I have light brown freckles (I am blonde) and these are black and (to me) very noticable.

Good to know I am not the only one....decided to work my way through my 'feeling sorry for myself' day and am going to go and see a movie with a friend this evening...back o work tomorrow which will also help..

BarbaraA- bummer ...I think it could also be because I am still quite busty so the only one I can actually see is the one between my breasts...and it is nestled in there pretty god so not so noticable...don't look at my own side so can't see that one. I think I prefer the tattoos to their not linging me up right every time though. Because of the tats, my timeon the table was minimal as they were able to line me up very efficiently and rarely had to add marker to the mix...only the technicians who did not see me often used marker. My regular folks just used the tattoos.

My rad techs used markers instead of tattoos, but they wrote on this extremely sticky tape and then put the "X" where the tattoo would have been. So although I had to wear the same crummy bra every day in case some of the marker smeared off, I was never scribbled on or tattooed.

My RO was kind and brilliant - doctors from all over the state send their patients to him. I didn't even know it when I chose him, but since he and my popular onc work so closely together I just got lucky with him. Plus, he has the latest and greatest radiation equipment, called an IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), which works in the coolest way. The beams are directed at the tumor location via hundreds of simultaneous beams coming at you from hundreds of directions so it basically encircles the tumor area without touching the healthy tissue. I just lucked into that, too.

heartnsoul76 - Sounds like you hit the jackpot.  The center I went to supossedly had the best equipment in TX after MD Anderson.  I did ask about IMRT and he did not seem to know too much about it.  He knows how to do the Mammosite but says the technology is still too new and instead of giving the the pros of doing it - he gives you the cons.  Almost like he is trying to talk you about of it before you get started.  Any accelerated radiation, he can not do.  But yet in their advertising, they call themselves a "world class" cancer center.  What world?

heartnsoul - He did try the Mammosite but we could not get the balloon to fit right.  Seemed like his attitude really tookk a nose dive after that.  So glad I don't have to see him again.  I will call this week about the lung issues but will refuse an appt.  

Barbara, I liked my rads onc ok, but once done, just didn't see the need for every 3 months after the first 3 or 4 visits.  I agree - 5 docs was enough!  I asked my medical onc if she thought that would be a problem and she said no, so I just stopped going to rad onc.  I had tats (explained to me ahead of time) and sharpees, but team was excellent at describing everything - that is, except the fact that I'd continue to have breast changes for 4 years.  To newbies, be prepared in case that happens with you too .. it's not uncommon.  I have a very hard area in the section where I had boosts and that breast shrunk considerably.  My surgeon has done a few different types of biopsies in that area just to be sure nothing is hidden.

PMom, sooo good to see your post.  We miss you.  Prayers continue for good treatment results.

You close your eyes? Geez..hope your hands are still on the wheel at least:)

the idea of my breast continuing to change for 4 years freaks me out, truth be told...I know it will change this year as it heals and all that stuff...but 4 years???? The past two days, my breast has been sore...no idea why really...storm coming? Maybe barometric pressure has changed my old peri-menopause headaches into breast aches?

More shrinkage? if that is the case, at what point do they offer reconstructive surgery to those of us who have had lumpectomies to even things up? Or don't they? god......

Jo, I am thinking making the other one smaller....no point being a 34DDD at 4'10"! seriously...I prefer the new look but would prefer if the nipples were facing the same direction. I always wondered when I saw women with boob jobs the size of my natural ones why they would want to...I have never understood but now I am just grateful that I had enough to be able to say to my surgeon "Take enough so that it never ever comes back!" while knowing that I would still have plenty....

As I have said to my galpals for decades, I would happily give you some if I could! Don't think anyone wants the part I had cut out of me though! (How is that for some dark humour at bedtime!)

consider it done Jo, consider it done!